Sony Showcases Prototype Head-mounted 3D Display

My childhood memories of immersive 3D experience were defined by the video for Aerosmith's Amazing. It is for that reason I have a firm belief that a head-mounted VR goggle like system, where each eye is fed discrete images using separate displays, is the only viable way of viewing true 3D content. This belief has only been strengthened after having seen the failures of glass based anaglyph, polarized, and active LCD systems to achieve a painless 3D experience. Fortunately the good people at Sony may have been inspired by Aerosmith to come up with a similar platform to deliver 3D content. The bizarre white thing resembling X-Men's Cyclops' glasses is Sony's prototype head-mounted 3D display.

Sony showcased the futuristic concept wearable display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas yesterday. The device uses a pair of OLED displays feeding each eye with discrete 720p video. In addition to the cool blue lights, the concept display system also dished out virtual 5.1 surround audio. "We are working on prototypes of new 3D personal displays to keep us ahead in offering a better personal experience to consumers. The first prototype is this Sony headmount display," informed Hiroshi Yoshioka of Sony.

While this sounds promising, do not hold your collective breaths, because this prototype was rather crude in the way the users had to hold it propped up with their hands. That means this is just a very early proof-of-concept at the most, so actual deployment into the market may take a long time; that is if at all Sony bothers to release it. With active-shutter LCD based 3D glasses costing anywhere around Rs. 5,000 to 8000 a pop in addition to the price of a 3D TV, a head-mounted system seems more promising. One just hopes this showcase spurs the others to try this take on 3D content delivery system.




Images courtesy of Engadget.